…But can he change Bernie Ecclestone’s mind?

The mayor of Montreal flies into London today to make a case to reinstate the axed Canadian Grand Prix for 2009. Mayor Gerald Tremblay is set for a showdown in the capital tomorrow with Wee Bernie Ecclestone, in a bid to reinstate Montreal’s lost weekend.

“We’ll be meeting Mr. Ecclestone to see how much he wants this Grand Prix to be held,” said Raymond Bachand, Quebec’s Economic Development Minister (Bachand will be present in the meeting with Ecclestone and Tremblay). “If the conditions are financially responsible, we’ll save this event. If they’re totally unreasonable, we’re in trouble.”

Bernie claims Montreal has not paid its debts for the past three years. The Canadians say the amounts for 2006 and 2007 have been addressed, while there is still a dispute over what is owed for 2008.

The Canadian GP boosts Quebec’s economy by an estimated $100m per year, so it’s easy to see why its officials are going to so much trouble to put Montreal back on the 2009 F1 calendar.

Thing is, Bernie doesn’t exactly have a great history of changing his mind - at least now that the French GP has fallen off the schedule, there is a free weekend. Good luck, Mr Mayor.